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Association of Loneliness with Cognitive Functions

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The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Observational studies suggest psychosocial factors such as social support and loneliness are associated with vulnerability for cognitive decline in older adults. However, because of racial/ethnic homogeneity in prior studies focused on identifying these associations in predominantly White cohorts, less is known about the generalizability of these putative psychosocial mechanisms in a diverse population. Thus, we evaluated whether lower levels of loneliness were associated with better cognitive performance in our sample.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using 541 participants from (Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa) Dementia Cohort. Participants’ self-reported loneliness as exposure. Cognitive performance is measured using a neuropsychological battery as the outcome. Raw scores were converted into Z scores, and global cognitive function was created. Generalized estimated equation and robust regression analysis).

Results

Better global cognitive function is associated with a lower level of loneliness at (β = −0.0131, 95 % CI −0.1990, −0.0071) after adjustment for age, gender, and education. Lower levels of loneliness were associated with varying cognitive domains after adjustment for age, gender, and education; and persisted after additional adjustments of vascular risk factors.

Conclusions

Self-reported lower loneliness was associated with higher levels of cognitive performance in a rural South African cohort of Black older adults. Although these findings and the potential of reverse causality need to be further validated, our results suggest that an intervention study may be merited to assess whether reducing loneliness lessens vulnerability to cognitive decline.

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Acknowledgement

We are most grateful to the HAALSI participants who have committed so much of their time and effort.

Funding

Study Funding: This research was supported by the Robert Katzman Research Training Fellowship in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research cosponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Brain Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association. None of the funding organizations and sponsors had a role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and, decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Kay Thwe Kyaw

  2. New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA

    A. Levine

Authors
  1. Kay Thwe Kyaw
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  2. A. Levine
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Correspondence to Kay Thwe Kyaw.

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Conflict of interest: No conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Kyaw, K.T., Levine, A. Association of Loneliness with Cognitive Functions. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 10, 903–908 (2023). https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2023.60

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2023.60

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